My BABY is done!!! (almost)

[TommyB]

1+ semesters in the machine shop = many missed nights at the bar
300 lbs of aluminum = $190
Steppers, rails, shafts, screws, etc = $600
Watching it move for the first time = PRICELESS


Well, here is the final product of all my work from the past couple months. Started designing in solidworks in june and started building in september. We(me and my gf) would like to thank alot of the members here for the plethora of information on this site.

Here are some of the specs of the machine:
Travel: x = 24 in., y = 18 in., z = 5 in.
Steppers: 800 oz-in PacSci on the x and y
150 oz-in on the z
Rails: 1 in. Thompson pillow blocks on the x, supported through entire length
3/4 in. Thompson pillow blocks on the y, supported entire length
IKO rails off ebay for the z
Screws: 5/8 in. Thompson ball screws
Drivers: Gecko 201's with 50V power supply
Spindle: Self designed with interchangeable collets, belt driven by a crap
router (for now)
Aluminum: 3/8 in. precision plate acquired from scrapyard
Rapids: 260 ipm ( probably could do more, but maxed out Mach2 )


Here are some pics, I will get more up later with some video

[anoel]

Clean....

[keithorr]

I noticed you have the smallest motor on the z axis. During 3D contour cutting at high ipm, I always had trouble with my carver until I doubled the size of my z axis motor. The xy motion was rarely a problem, but not being able to raise the z axis fast enough and missing steps caused a lot of lost time/work. For 2D or 2-1/2D work, it probably doesn't matter much.

[sendkeys]

ahh cool baby goodjob it has your eyes :P hehe

[TommyB]

keithorr, your right, the z motor is a problem, i have it set up so i can move at 100 ipm, and that limits me in 2 1/2D and 3D stuff. I just wanted to see the max speed i could get and thats where i got those numbers from. The Z motor needs to be changed to something with 200+ oz in so i can cut faster.